| When
you put on this album for the first time,
not knowing what it is, you would probably
think that you would be listening to another
Black Ark recording.
But then, if you listen to the music
itself, you would hear that the music is in
fact heavily influenced by a style called
"Rub a Dub": and the Black Ark
isn't that known to record that kind of
Reggae Music.
In fact, Lee Perry had already burned
down his Black Ark studio at the time of
this recording.
So, what's the deal?
You wouldn't expect it, if you never
heard of the studio and label that provided
this Showcase album by one of the few Roots
Harmony groups that would be able to ride a
Rub a Dub riddim just as well as a Rockers
track: The Meditations
They had already been recording with a
number of producers before "I Love
JAH", including a well appreciloved
album produced by Linvall Thompson and the
band that basically was Rub a Dub: The Roots
Radics.
On this album, they proof once more that
"Roots Harmony Vocal Trio's" could
also provide the vocals for Rub a Dub, which
is a more minimalistic style of Reggae than
the rather complicated Roots Rockers usually
associated with Harmony Groups.
The music on "I Love JAH" is
kind of a mix between Rockers and Rub a Dub
and that makes this album kind of special.
Six great tunes by The Meditations, all kind
of long as they come with a vocal and a DUB
in the same track.
Crucial material from this Jamaican Roots
group, recorded in... America!
We're talking about the Wackies label:
founded by Lloyd Barnes, it was the first
American Reggae studio of some significance.
And it had a sound that would have a lot of
similarity with the Black Ark sounds of Lee
Perry.
Unfortunately, the sound wasn't the only
similarity. Like the Black Ark, Wackies does
no longer exist and it's original vinyl
releases have become well sought after by
Reggae collectors who know their business.
Recommended!
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